I have neuropathy or psychalgia? :/
 

Hi. Im 26 years old male. In my eighteen years old I started feeling burning pain in parts of my feets, very sensitive skin to touch!. This reappeared with the years. With the time was in the legs too. I did lot of tests. Many EMGs, bone scans, many MRIs, blood works. None of those show anything except a Vitamin D deficiency I’m replaced for nothing. The pain lasted some months before dissapear. 2 years ago after years of little or no pain I feel a sudden burning pain in the legs and then over all body (belly, arms, back, groin) and was a hell! Since then Im with this :(. I also suffer in my feet pain to press it (like it was a bruise, a bone pain, not just skin pain) Then I did QST for evaluate small fiber neuropathy. The first time it was positive and started with Gabapentin a different dosis for months, nothing changed. I did another QST and was now negative, so I dont know. My doctor wasnt go for the skin and nerve biopsy at the moment, he says its risky.
I describe the pain as “burns” “biting” “scratchs” “rash” “insect biting on toes” “slap” in the skin, or “inflamatory” pain in foot and legs (hurt to press) like if I was kicked and have a bruise ��
It could be some kind of neuropathy? I have handful of doctors who always try to look a cause despite there is noone at the moment.
What about psychogenic pain? Psychiatrists always said “its all mental, bla blah” and want to put a generic medication for every possible problem… its disgusting, but all of them and some general doctors go for that option. I dont feel streessed or depressed more than in the past (when dont have this, so don't know what to think) I don't know if I got any other syntom of neuropathy but just some days one after lot of days I had itch in a specific spot, but very mostly is tender to pain :S

I think i should go for a skin biospy tho here, is very hard to get :( but there is really a way that any "psychogenic" thing can cause all this chronic ****? , doctors didn't found anything bad at the moment and did lot of test for several years :S. Thank you

A skin biopsy is not risky. Your doctors might not be equipped to do the procedure you need. Maybe you can go to an academic medical center?
Your doctor must be talking about a "nerve" biopsy. That is risky and not done much anymore now that we have a newer method. I had the skin biopsy and it was positive. I also have the feeling my parts of me feeling like a bruise. It does sound like you might have small fiber neuropathy. Have you had a full work up for autoimmune diseases?

I agree with Healthgirl, the skin biopsy is probably the best way to diagnose small fiber neuropathy. (even though it is not fool proof)

I think the whole psychalgia thing I think is often just the doctors taking the easy way out. I can tell you from personal experience that anxiety (or depression) can in fact cause pretty much any symptom that is regulated by the nervous system in any way (all kinds of digestive issues, headache, sweating, heart palpitations, tremors, twitches, speech issues, breathing issues, the list goes on - and yes I believe it can cause pain sensations). But I think that is highly unlikely in a person who does not have any other signs or history of anxiety or depression.

From what you describe, it does certainly sound like some form of small fiber neuropathy. Unfortunately, even with very good doctors it can be difficult to get a firm diagnosis. And even with a diagnosis, it is difficult to find the cause, and difficult in many cases to treat.

My advice (to anyone who will listen) is to start out with dietary improvements, an exercise program, stress reduction, and use of supplements as needed. You can find lots of advice on supplements throughout the forums here. No one thing works for everyone - its unfortunately somewhat of a trial and error thing.

I hope you can find what works for you, and get some relief soon.

I'm sorry about what's happening to you and that you've had to come here for that reason, but this is a good place for help and empathy. You've received good advice so far. I just want to reiterate that many of us who have neuropathy here have at some point in the process of diagnosis encountered physicians who out of laziness, stupidity, ignorance or some combination (or whatever other reason) attributed the cause of our symptoms to some underlying psychological or psychiatric reason. That includes me. The first neurologist I saw didn't even know what small fiber neuropathy was and how to diagnose it. After multiple nerve conduction studies, he told me I seem very stressed, anxious and that I just needed to exercise, calm down and I would be fine. He was an idiot and I had the neurologist who diagnosed me with a skin punch biopsy send a copy of the report to him, so he would know that.

Best of luck getting to the bottom of what's going on!

Well, first of all thank you all you guys for you kindness and intelligence, and sorry for the grammar, my main language is spanish. I will reply everyone:


Yeah you right , I tough the same about he think is risky the nerve no the skin biopsy. I guess I just dont have the biopsy yet is for the difficult to get, but is possible on my "state" just expensive and here doctors go first for QST but i read is much better the biopsy... About full work up for autoimmune diseases, don't know maybe if you give a name example... If is something very weird to do most probably no (most probably Health insurances does not cover something very weird/expensive; some that doctor give me and for that reason didnt do yet are : "AC Anti MAG, AC Anti Sulfatido, AC Anti GD1b")

In my experience was mostly psychiatrists who said that (of which I have had very bad feelings through the years)

I also have had history of anxiety and depression, but mostly about that. Also I had other sad symtoms that (like this) didnt have diagnosis or treatment, like annoying tongue pain for more than a decade (few years ago I was told it was for a trauma habit with the teeths - in internet say its anxiety, even almost all doctors i visited didnt recognized this problem :/ but now I feel much better) Acne, I was treated with Isotretinoin after several years of comings and goings...
When the neuropathic pain back two years ago I was very stressed and depressed for these other health problems ( I have those worst than ever despite 10 years of effort visiting doctors :( But those problems eventually resolved) Also I was very frustrated to have sensitive to cold in parts of my body (feets, hands, parts of the legs cold to touch) but I also wasnt diagnosed with something for this. For this I have had a lot of insomnia , anxiety and depression in the past; so I have history of bad health but dont know if bad lucky or what, I never smoke, drink, did physical training all those years, visited several doctors, I have had good family, so dont know...
And thanks for the tips.

Sorry for you man, only really good doctors ,who are the few ,wont go for this , but sadly you have to saw differents doctors until find the best doctor for difficult things like this. laziness
I received similar tips because this. But the worst are psychiatrists in my opinion.

Thank you and sorry by the extension

Thats sounds good, thank you man. I took lot of b vitamin through the years but didnt try much. I read thousand of times, good thing about Omega 3, Magenium, Berries, parsley? ginko biloba, and others.

I just found some thing that many times gave me relief is a good distractionon the computer ( leisure time), a shower, a good food, as if the sum of these stimuli make the pain decrease or disappear, but at the other day it can reappear :( .

I'll definitely go for the skin biopsy. But meanwhile will try those foods and others. If you want/can to recommend any specific food , supplement or exercise I would like to hear. I will review the forum. Thank you and good health.

Trial and error is necessary, and if you search the forum, you'll find lots of advice on diet, supplementation and stress reduction. For example, if you search under my username, you'll see my posts about diet. A great place to start, especially if your SFN is immune mediated, is here: The Autoimmune Protocol - The Paleo Mom. It has good science behind it and has worked very well for myself and a number of other people who have tried it. Gluten is as bad as it gets, but the Paleo Mom notes all the other offenders. You can try it out and see what you think. It took me 1-2 months to begin seeing real results that I could point to, so be patient, with this and anything you do. Though if some supplement doesn't match with you well, then don't keep at it, of course. I've had bad experiences with a few things and stopped right away. Positive results are different and everyone is different to some degree, so it takes time to see what, if any, positive results you may have from diet, supplementation or any lifestyle change.

Good luck!

This statement right here is what your psychiatrists need to know and they should shut their front door!

Yeah, and even while I said them I waiting the QST result they wanted to start a medicine to change thoughs (seroquel) and I'm magnifying the problems.
I tried it years ago for nothing. psychiatry is a disgrace of the medicine, and should be rephrased IMO

Oh, i forgot some a couple things. I read lot mention "TENS" stimulation or newer ones. They really help? Somebody tried it? And other tecniques like Minfullness and Biofeedback?

And the other doubt I have is ...somebody knows if neuropathy can lead in sensitive to cold feet , legs, hands (e.g. feets very sensitive to the cold, freeze feets cold to touch) ???